Turkey Takes Center Stage

It’s no surprise that Turkey is on travelers’ minds. It offers up tremendously gorgeous landscapes—from the mountains to the Mediterranean Sea—not to mention incredible archaeology and bountiful thermal springs. Need more proof? The country is building the world’s largest airport to accommodate millions of passengers, and the hotel scene is booming with new properties and offerings for travelers.

Overlooking Torba Bay, the Mediterranean Sea and nearby islands, the Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Bodrum will open its doors in 2014. The company, known for its chic beach clubs in South Beach and St. Tropez, will offer a resort that features 57 suites and villas with private pools and decks.

Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Bodrum will also have two sandy beaches—a rarity in this rocky region—and a marina, as well as Nikki Spa. For more information, visit nikkibeachhotels.com.

Meanwhile, Relais & Chateaux has added the five-star Museum Hotel in Cappadocia to its portfolio. The 30-room hotel—set in an archaeological site thousands of years old that was once inhabited by Hittites, Persians, Romans and Ottomans—originally opened in 2002, and has undergone a 4-year renovation project. Called a museum since the rooms and public spaces are decorated with antiques, guests are meant to feel like they are living in the time of these ancient cultures.

Rates start at $361 for a deluxe room. For more information, visit museum-hotel.com.

The SunSplash Antalya Festival will be held June 2-9 at beachside venue The Hillside Su, featuring dance music, workshops and activities. Travelers heading to the week-long event, also known as “Turkey’s Biggest Little Festival,” can take a daily yoga session with Mey Elibi; join London DJ Phil Asher for a music production seminar; or learn about raw food and raw living from Kate Magic. Other activities include spa therapies, sports and tennis.

Also in June, the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival in Antalya is celebrating its 20th anniversary, featuring performances from the state opera and ballet. The festival, taking place June 2-22, is held in the 2,000-year-old Aspendos Antique Theatre.

As tourism continues to boom in Turkey, the government has decided to build a new airport—the third in Istanbul—set to open in 2017. With a $9 billion investment, this airport, planned to be the largest in the world, will have the capacity to serve 150 million passengers every year.

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